Is the local job market in Barbados dwindling? Are our tertiary level graduates experiencing difficulty finding jobs? These are some of the question I would like to know the answers too. Given these tough economic times in our country, are Barbadians really having difficulty finding good jobs?

Firstly we need a description of a “good job”. Well in my opinion a “good job” is one that allows an individual based on their experiences, skill set and ability, to grasp and apply knowledge gained to generate adequate income for meeting and surpassing the basic necessities of life.

Having been awarded the opportunity to blend with several University graduates, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that not all are finding “good jobs” available in Barbados.

What about our technically skilled labor force? Are persons still being able to make end meet?

I am not Barbadian, but as a University graduate, I can relate to the lack of "good jobs" out there. It has become more difficult for us (graduates) to find meaningful employment commensurate to our qualifications. With the onset of education for all and Caribbean Governments making education more accessible and in some cases free up to the tertiary undergraduate level, it is becoming more and more competitive in the job market. It is not going to get any better and I believe it is only going to get worse. The new environment of work is desiring that people be more academically qualified in order to keep their jobs. So you have people who already have the jobs, taking leave, going and get the qualifications and return to their jobs, having satisfied the requirements for keeping them; and people are not retiring fast enough. This means that jobs are not becoming available at the rate in which people are getting qualified to filled those positions. The ratio is not balanced at all, demand heavily out weighs the supply of jobs.
The possible solution: Business start thinking dynamic and embark on an expansion strategy to start incorporating all these brilliant minds into the workplace, or we all become entrepreneurs and start our own companies and then create jobs for ourselves and others!